History of NIOM

Nordic Institute of Dental Materials (NIOM) was established in 1972, as a joint Nordic institute located in Oslo. Our obligation was and still is to work towards ensuring that the materials and equipment intended for use in dentistry in the Nordic countries are safe and appropriate. This aim is met through materials testing, standardisation and research.

In 2009 the Nordic Council of Ministers decided to make NIOM a Nordic Cooperative Body for dental biomaterials and transfer the ownership to national authorities in Norway. Since 2010 NIOM has been owned jointly by UniRand (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the University of Oslo) and the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services.

Certification of dental materials

A programme for testing and certification of dental biomaterials on the Nordic market was established, and the first lists of certified materials were published in 1974. Products were tested every year, and the Nordic health authorities required, or strongly recommended, that dentists used NIOM certified products. In 1992 the laboratory obtained official accreditation for testing dental biomaterials. These testing and certification activities continued until 1998 when the European Medical Device Directive came into force, introducing a new, joint European regulatory scheme for the certification (CE marking) of medical and dental biomaterials and devices.

On 1 January 2004, the CE certification activity, formerly undertaken by NIOM, was handed over to a Norwegian-registered foundation named NIOM CERTIFICATION. This foundation changed its name to Nordic Dental Certification (NDC) and was in 2011 incorporated in the Norwegian certification organization Nemko. Thus NIOM no longer has any responsibility for the certification of dental products.

Testing of dental materials

Today, the Institute maintains its competency in the accredited testing of dental biomaterials, and promotes this activity with manufacturers and regulatory bodies. The provision of an accredited laboratory service to industry, health authorities and other parties remains one of NIOM’s core activities, and test results can be used for certification purposes and to document product quality.

Standardization

NIOM has since its establishment contributed to standardization at an international level through the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and within Europe through the Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN). Scientists from the institute are technical experts and conveners of working groups within the following technical committees (TC): ISO/TC 106 Dentistry, ISO/TC 194 Biocompatibility of medical devices, CEN/TC 55 Dentistry, and CEN/TC 206 Biocompatibility of medical devices. Through participation in standardization work, NIOM has had, and still has, a major impact on the selection of methodology and requirements of the dental product standards, and the requirements are often based on results from research activities at NIOM.

Research

Research has always been a major obligation for NIOM. Projects are clinically oriented and are directed towards the discovery of new information about dental biomaterials, especially physical and chemical characteristics, clinical properties, and the safety of patient and dental personnel. Results are published in peer-reviewed journals both internationally and in the Nordic countries. NIOM funds a visiting scientist programme to promote exchange of scientist from the Nordic countries. Since the establishment of the programme in 1979, 85 scientists have visited NIOM to undertake joint research with NIOM scientists.

Milestones

1970: The board representing Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway had their first meeting.

2009: Last year as an institution under the auspices of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

2010: NIOM became a Nordic Co-operative Body owned by the University of Oslo and the Ministry of Health and Care Services.
NIOM moved to Oslo University campus area.

2017: NIOM celebrated 45 years, and invited to a seminar with focus on NIOM’s Nordic work to provide patients with safe and well-functioning biomaterials. Read about the seminar and the opening address by the State Secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services (both texts are in Norwegian). Read about NIOMs 45 years of service.